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Walker wakes before Bob, who lies in the bed beside him, sprawled out. Walker sits up, leans over, and kisses Bob on the temple, Bob groans as he stirs slightly, turning to find Walker hovering above him, a soft smile on his face.
“Morning,” Walker says, giving him a kiss on the lips.
‘Morning,” Bob said, laughing softly as a smile stretches across his face. “Merry Christmas,” he adds.
“Merry Christmas to you too,” Walker says as he plants another kiss on Bob’s cheek. Bob closes his eyes, smiling. Then, Walker throws his legs over the side of the bed and stands, stretching as Bob drifts back to sleep. He walks over to their shared closet and pulls one of Bob’s loose sweaters over his bare skin. He turns back, looking at Bob, who has taken over the entirety of the bed in Walker’s absence. He laughs quietly to himself, wearing a grin.
Walker opens the door and exits into the hallway of the Watchtower, the walls lined with bedroom doors of the Thunderbolts: his new family. As he walks down the hallway, he bathes in the silence. He is always the first one awake, even on Christmas morning. He enjoyed the silence, especially when he was about to cook in the kitchen.
Walker cracks about a dozen eggs into a large bowl, whisking them into a fine yolk. He splashes in a bit of milk, then pours the mixture into a heated pan on the stove. After a moment, he used a spatula to slowly form the egg mixture into a scrambled consistency. He reached over, pulling open a cupboard, grabbing salt and pepper, shaking it into the scrambled eggs on the stove. As he turns the burner off, Yelena enters.
“Morning, Walker,” Yelena says.
“You’re up early,” Walker states, looking over to her.
“It’s Christmas,” she says flatly.
Walker turns back as he finishes up the eggs. “It is,” he says. “You want some eggs?”
She shrugs. “Sure,” she says. Walker dishes some out into a bowl. “Thanks,” she says as she digs in.
Walker nods, grabbing himself a bowl of eggs. Yelena stands, rounding the counter and opening the fridge. She grabs a bottle of ketchup and returns to her seat, squirting it into her bowl.
Walker stares at her for a moment. “You know that’s disgusting, right?”
She looks up to him. “Have you ever tried it?”
“No, but--” he starts.
“No, you’ve haven’t,” she interrupts. A beat. “Bob still asleep?”
Walker nods. “Course he is,” he says. “Ava?”
Yelena nods. “Sleeping like a baby,” she says.
As Walker finishes his eggs, he stands, grabbing another bowl. “I’ll be back,” he says.
“Okay,” Yelena replies, taking another bite of her eggs.
Walker enters Bob and his bedroom, carrying the bowl of eggs. He sits down on the side of the bed and runs a hand through Bob’s long, wavy hair. Bob jumps slightly, eyes opening.
“Sorry,” Walker says. “I brought you breakfast.” He holds out the bowl, showing Bob.
Bob smiles, sitting up in the bed. “Oh, what did I ever do to deserve you,” he says. Walker just smiles as Bob takes a bite of the eggs, a smile on his face.
Bob finishes up the bowl, then stretches, Walker still sitting on the side of the bed, watching him with a loving look, rubbing his thumb on his thigh. Bob places the empty bowl on his nightstand, then leans forward and kisses Walker.
“Delicious as usual, my love,” Bob says, then kisses Walker again. Walker inches closer to Bob, putting his other hand on Bob’s lower back as Bob wraps his arms around Walker’s neck, the kisses deepening.
“We better get out there,” Walker says between kisses. “I think they’re doing presents soon."
Bob smiles as he kisses Walker, then says, “I get presents?”
Walker kisses him again. “Course you do.” Another kiss. And another.
Bob pulls away. “Well then, we better go,” he says. He plants a final kiss on Walker’s lips, then stands and exits. Walker watches him go, then follows after him.
In the living room of the Watchtower, the Thunderbolts sit on various furniture around the Christmas tree. Bob and Walker cuddle up next to each other. Yelena lies with her legs draped over Ava’s lap. Bucky sits on a loveseat, sipping from a cup of coffee, eating the rest of Walker’s eggs. Alexei, dressed in a Santa costume, stands in the middle of the room, handing out presents.
“Lena, this one is for you,” Alexei says in a vaguely Santa-like accent, handing her a large present.
“Alexi, you know you don’t have to do this whole Santa…” she gestures a hand up and down his persona. “thing.”
Alexi opens his mouth to speak, but Bob interrupts. “Yelena,” Bob says. “stop trying to eat Christmas.”
She rolls her eyes, then opens her present, revealing a silencer for a pistol. She gasps in joy, scanning the room. “Who did this?” she asks.
Across the room, Bucky raises his hand, a slight smile on his face. Sam comes up behind him, draping his arms over the chair, and Bucky’s shoulders. Bucky’s smile grows brighter.
Then, Alexei passes a present to Walker.
“That one’s from me,” Bob says, trying to suppress a grin.
Walker smiles back at him, then opens the present, uncovering a new, shiny set of kitchen knives. Walker looks over to Bob, his smile widening.
“Do you like it?” Bob asks. “I can take it back if you don’t.”
“No, it’s great, really,” Walker says. “I needed new knives.” He leans over and kisses Bob. “Thank you.”
“Aww, how cute,” Ava says. Then, she turns to Alexei. “My turn.”
Alexei tosses her a present and she tears it open. Inside, a grey Labubu. Ava grins. “It’s so ugly,” she says. “I love it.” She turns to Yelena. “Was this you?” she asks. Yelena nods, smiling. “Thank you, darling.”
Alexei hands Bob a rectangular box. “Who’s this from?” he asks.
Walker nudges him. “That’s from me,” he says, “It’s just something stupid.”
Bob smiles, then opens the present, revealing an ugly, bright red sweater, with Santa on the front, tongue sticking out. ‘Oh my god,” Bob exclaims. “Santa, hand him that one,” he says, pointing to a similarly sized present underneath the tree.
Alexei hands the box to Walker and he unwraps it. Inside, an ugly red sweater, with a Christmas tree on the front, adorned with ornaments, a string of lights, and a star at the top.
Walker laughs. “This is horrible,” he says.
“Go and put them on,” Yelena says to Walker and Bob.
“Right now?” Walker asks.
“Yes, definitely,” Ava states.
“For the spirit of Christmas!” Alexei shouts too loudly.
Bob stands quickly with excitement. He grabs Walker’s arm, who groans as Bob pulls him off the couch, leading him down the hallway to their bedroom.
Walker closes the door behind him as Bob pulls off his shirt, revealing chiseled abs. Walker smiles, taking a step towards him and reaching out, running his hands down Bob’s body. Bob takes the bottom of Walker’s shirt and lifts it over is head.
For a moment, the two study each other’s bodies with their eyes and their hands. Then, they begin to kiss, quickly growing passionate.
Bob pushes Walker up against the door, kissing at his neck. Walker feels his pants grow tighter. They begin to make out, clutching the ugly Christmas sweaters at their sides. After a moment, Walker pulls away, his breath heavy with lust. “They’re probably waiting for us.”
“Who cares,” Bob says in-between another kiss. “Ava’s probably already got them opening up more presents anyway. You know how impatient she gets.”
They kiss for an extended moment, then Walker pulls away again and sighs, putting his ugly sweater in-between the two of them. “Let’s just get these things on,” he says.
Bob groans. “Fine,” he says. Walker moves past him and Bob slaps his ass. “We’ll finish this later.”
Walker turns back, a mischievous smile on his face. “Fine by me,” he says. He looks down at the sweater. “You’re lucky I love you so much, otherwise I wouldn’t be putting this thing on.” He pulls on the sweater, then turns to Bob, noticing him staring, a soft smile on his face. “Is is that bad?” he asks.
“No, you look good,” Bob says. “It’s just…” he trails off as he pulls his sweater over his head.
“It’s just what?” Walker asks.
“That was the first time you said ‘I love you’,” Bob says.
Walker shrugs. “I didn’t think I had to,” he says. “Thought it was obvious.”
Bob takes a step forward, wrapping his arms around Walker’s waist. “Oh, it was,” he says, pulling him into a kiss. “But I love you too.”
Walker kisses him back, then pulls away, a wide smile on his face. “Merry Christmas, Bobby,” he says, kissing him again.
“Merry Christmas, John,” Bob replies.